See Us Now (SUN)! Idaho

See Us Now (SUN)! Idaho

What is SUN! Idaho?

See Us Now! Idaho (SUN! Idaho) is a collaboration of self-advocates and organizations including the Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Northwest ADA Center-Idaho, and the Idaho Coalition Against Sexual & Domestic Violence. SUN! Idaho collaborated with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Idaho to identify strengths and needs in services, systems, and communities. The following are key findings and recommendations for change and future work.

Key Finding: Persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities receive inadequate education and outreach on recognizing neglect, exploitation, abuse, and violence in their relationships.

Takeaway: People with intellectual and developmental disabilities deserve reliable and relevant education on healthy relationships, boundaries, consent, and sexuality, along with an understanding of violence, abuse, and exploitation.

Key Finding: People with intellectual and developmental disabilities experience unique barriers in reporting acts of abuse, exploitation, and violence including a lack of safety and trust in victim-centered solutions.

Takeaway: People with intellectual and developmental disabilities deserve meaningful access to violence intervention and reporting services, without fears or concerns for their well-being or retaliation.

Key Finding: Persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities who report or seek help for abuse, exploitation, and violence, do not receive support or solutions relevant to their lived experience, are not believed, or no action is taken as a result of the report.

Takeaway: People with intellectual and developmental disabilities experience regular re-traumatization through reporting processes and do not receive consistent solutions to violence, exploitation, and abuse when they do report to systems.

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Recommendation: Center, and invest in, the leadership of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

“We actually know what we need.”

Current systems which shape the reporting processes and responses to neglect, exploitation, abuse, and violence do not have adequate representation of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, or have none at all.

We would be able to effectively meet the needs of survivors with intellectual and developmental disabilities if we included these voices in every level.

Recommendation: Build the capacity of intervention and response systems to include the specific needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

“Universal access doesn’t hurt anybody.”

Community members who report violence must feel confident that appropriate action will be taken through strategies that do not compromise their access to existing necessary supportive services.

Clear solutions and reporting processes must be established based on the unique and critical needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Incorporating the needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities into all responses to violence will benefit all survivors.

SUN! Idaho Resources

The following resources were developed by adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, community leaders, and organizations.

Resources for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

We Deserve Healthy Relationships Brochure | Spanish

As people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, we can - and do - have real relationships and intimacy. 

We have a Right to Report Abuse Brochure | Spanish

None of us deserves to be hurt or abused in our relationships - or by anyone.

Resources for Parents and Guardians

Healthy Relationships and Sexuality: A Guide for Parents and Guardians of People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities | Spanish

Our children and loved ones with intellectual and developmental disabilities have a right to make decisions about dating, relationships, and sexuality. Whether the loved one in our life has been exploring or is just starting, we as parents and guardians can be a key support in this growth and development.

Resources for Service Providers

Community of Support Media Campaign - "We actually know what we need"

A series of ten posters to raise awareness, interrupt ableism, and improve services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. People with intellectual and developmental disabilities deserve a COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT!

Strengthening Services at the Intersection of Intellectual and Developmental Disability and Violence: A Training Conversations for Service Providers

Education Series on Exploring Sexuality and Healthy Relationships

SUN! Idaho offers an education series exploring sexuality and health relationships for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Please watch the videos if you are:

  • A person with a disability who wants to learn more about sexuality and healthy relationships
  • Someone interested in becoming a sexuality and healthy relationship educator for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
  • A current educator who would like to improve their skills in working with people with disabilities

Here's what the series covers:

  • Introduction to sexuality and healthy relationships
  • Supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
  • Sexual self-advocacy and talking to others about what we learn

Session One: Becoming a Sexual Self-Advocate and Supporting Others (Beliefs) | Download Session Materials | Watch the Video

Session Two: Becoming a Sexual Self-Advocate and Supporting Others (Knowledge) | Download Session Materials | Watch the Video

Session Three: Becoming a Sexual Self-Advocate and Supporting Others (Skills) | Download Session Materials | Watch the Video

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ICA 24.015 SUN! Rights Broch SP Cover
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Thank you to Idahoans with intellectual and developmental disabilities who shared their experiences in focus groups and interviews.

Facilitated by Jen Magelky-Seiler and Will Wallace.

This project is supported by Grant No. 2020-FW-AX-K004 “Education, Training, and Enhanced Services to End Violence Against Women with Disabilities Grants Program” awarded by the Office of Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.

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